Lap Queries

I'm going for my lap in a week and terrified, anyone had one and wish there was something they knew about before it that the doctors don't mention? Also wondering if I have to shave, wasn't told to but seen a lot of people having to and the idea of it is putting me off big time!

[MMary-Moderator]

Hi Katecurlyfries,

I am sorry to hear you are terrified about your laparoscopy. We run a helpline if you wanted to talk to one of our lovely volunteers for support before or after you op: endometriosis-uk.org/helpline

In the meantime you might find our laparoscopy information leaflet helpful: endometriosis-uk.org/sites/...

Best Wishes,

M Mary, Endometriosis UK

[-ALiViA-]

Hiya. I had mine yesterday. You don’t have to shave.

Random things I didn’t know about...

You get cannula in a small room whilst led on a bed, then are wheeled into the surgery room. And slid on to the operating bed. In theatre there were about 10 people which surprised me but being led on a bed you can’t really see much apart from big round lights. I thought it was a bit like being abducted by aliens (How I imagine!)

I saw the white liquid they inject in to the cannula. It is a huge syringe. Sorry if you didn’t want to know. But I was stunned at the size. However I didn’t feel anything going into that cannula, no pressure nothing. And when it was removed it was so fast I didn’t even have time to take a deep breath.

I’m covered in pink dye, some kind of sterile stuff they paint over your tummy.

For me, going to wee was hard. It felt like I was about to go but just wouldn’t come out. They give you a big cardboard pan that sits over the toilet and when you sit on it, it’s so noisy squeaking. I closed my eyes, concentrated on weeing and had to push gently to get it to release but was very slow and not much.

Felt cold after surgery so ask for more blankets if you need. Sometimes they have hot blankets which is sooo nice.

Take shoes that slip on or don’t need lacing or zipping up.

I found eating sweeter food easier after wards. Your mouth will be so dry. I was given rice crispies with sugar on top in cold milk which was perfect. Take a lip balm too!

For my shoulder pain I’m finding a microwaveable oat lavendar bag really really great. It’s a long one that wraps around the back of my neck. I recommend getting one of these.

That’s all I can think of atm. If I remember anything else il add xx

[Lulububs]

Hi i had mine 3 months ago and i was lucky that i had a friend who has had a few due to adhesions and she told me “ dont worry , ur worry and thoughts will b worse then it actually is” and she was right...

From the min u get there they are so on the ball , the nurses chat to u , u just dont notice what there doin to u, i didnt even notice the cannula and then i walked down to theatre where it was full of nurses and the anaethestist and they were chatting away and had music on and were laughing and chatting to me before i knew it i had it attached and they said count to 5 and i got to 3 and i was out.... job done....

When i came to i had nurse standing by my bed with cuppa tea and she said “ hows ur pain” i said “ yeh feels like bad period pain “ she came back with morphine and i didnt feel anything again for ages....

I laid there drinking tea and chatting for couple hour then went home.

Make sure u have nightie as u wont want anything round belly.

Ur b swollen. It not pain it more discomfort... it like period pain .

Makes sure u have mint tea or peppermint oil capsules as ur have wind.

Makes sure u keep on top on discomfort do not let it get on top of u.. ie pain meds every 4 hours ( no more then 8 a day)

Lots of sleep.

Dont over do it...

Chill out and relax , enjoy some box sets and films. I didnt go back to work for three weeks but i could have gone back after two but it would have been a push as i was just so tired all time. It takes it out of u the anaesthetic and the stress u get urself

Into before and then u realise it not as bad as u think.

[cmbxm]

Buy big knickers! Meal prep! Get some massive tops or nick your partners! If you struggle to wee after, turn around on the loo with you facing the system as it somehow makes it easier, get loads of pillows on your bed and make yourself as comfortable as possible! And good luck! It’ll be a breeze! Just don’t push yourself to do too much after! X

[MichelleOlivia]

I think it might be different in different hospitals as I never saw the inside of the theatre room like the 1st lady did. I walked to the anaesthetic room which is attached to the theatre room by joining doors but I couldn't see in there. I concentrated on talking to the nurse whilst the anaesthetist was at work, I told them I didn't want to see or know what they were doing. I was aware of them putting the canula in my hand but it wasnt painful, then I started to feel a bit tired and really relaxed, then he put an oxygen mask on me, said "think of something nice" and I was asleep within a second. It's a bit like breathing sweet cold air and a bit of a whooshing sound but lasts a second. I have a massive phobia of passing out in general which gives me panic attacks, so was terrified for my first lap, but I was absolutely fine and then wasn't scared for my second.

The not been able to wee after they don't worn you about. It's nothing to do with the procedure, it's the anasthetic that interferes with the bit of your brain that tells your bladder you need a wee. It doesn't last too long and walking around helps get it working again if you can manage it. I was able to walk around fairly well after my diagnostic lap, so did some laps up and down the ward to get my bladder going, but with my second there was no way, I was in agony to walk for a good few days, had to have help to get on an off the sofa, really couldn't do much for myself.

I was also surprised by how sick I was when I woke up. First time I felt like I had been on a week long bender and had the mother of all hangovers. I couldn't move my head without vomiting. It lasted about 3 hours before they then gave me some anti-sickness meds (which I didn't know they could do, so bloody ask for them as soon as you need them). First lot gave me 30 mins relief which gave me chance to get up and dressed. Second lot took about 20 mins to work but then lasted all evening which meant I could then keep some fluids in and walk around to get my bladder going. My second lap I told them I was sick after my first and then gave me a few types of anti sickness before I woke up so I was absolutely fine until I got out of bed to go for a wee, as soon as I got back into bed I started feeling sick and then vomited and then was ok after that. I do think that was more sickness from the level of pain tho as it was extreme. I had refused morphine tho, as they told me it may have been the morphine that made me so ill the previous time.

I hope it all goes well for you, try not to worry.

[Hidden in reply to MichelleOlivia]

I have a major fear of vomit which I think is going to be the worst bit for me!

[MichelleOlivia in reply to Hidden]

I took in crackers, mints, ginger beer and ginger tea...they offer your tea and toast and ginger biscuits and will give you water but the tepid hospital water made me feel sick, ginger biscuits were too dry to eat after an op as your throat is sore and mouth very dry and there was no way I could consider buttery toast and milky tea 🤢 Take in anything you would normally have to get over a hang over!

[Dee11]

I got the cannula put in while I was sitting in the waiting area, and one of the anaesthetists came round to see if I was okay. I’m terrible for googling things so had read all the horror stories going about what can happen - don’t do that! Honestly it was the worst idea I had. I told the aneasthetist what I had read and he told me how rare it all was. I was also really worried as it was my first anaesthetic and offered me a sedative when I first got there. I didn’t take it but if you feel you do you could ask if it’s an option.

I walked into a kind of prep room and just hopped on a bed in there. One of the nurses and two anaesthetists were in there with me. All I can remember is the anaesthetist said he was mixing my cocktail so I made a joke about how it wasn’t what I ordered or something like that and then started talking about how the cap they gave me to wear didn’t hold all my hair as it’s long, and if that was okay. Next thing I remember is waking up after surgery and asking if it had happened. I didn’t even get to the counting stage.

The one thing that felt a bit weird was seeing the clocks..... after I had asked if my surgery was finished I turned round and saw a clock and it felt weird seeing how much time had passed that I was totally unaware of.

I didn’t have any problems peeing like some of the others did. As soon as I woke up I felt like I had to go but they tried to give me a cardboard bowl to go in which I wasn’t for having so waited until I had been taken up to the ward. I was in a good bit of pain after I woke up but they gave me morphine.

I struggled eating at first which I hadn’t expected - it was a subway so nothing too difficult to eat - but I just took my time and it was fine. I only drank water but that seemed to be okay too.

Now that I think about it, I needed to pee loads within the first few hours after. I wasn’t allowed to use the bathroom at first so had to use a commode which, as stupid as it may sound, was one of the worst parts for me. I hated not being able to go to a proper toilet!

I’ve never heard the shaving thing before..... but one of the women in the same waiting area as me was sitting with her legs up which were hairy and she said she doesn’t believe in shaving so she hadn’t for the surgery and no one said anything.

Take massive knickers in with you, and nothing tight! I lived in jammies, leggings with baggy tshirts and joggies for a good bit after it.

Also don’t push yourself to get home too early. Two hours after surgery I apparently told a nurse I felt fine to go home and made my mum and dad wait at the hospital until midnight to get the all clear to go home. I should really have stayed in since I didn’t come out of theatre until after 4 and was still a bit ditzy feeling. I never actually saw a doctor before leaving so definitely stay in even if it’s just to see someone!

I didn’t get the shoulder pain that some people do but I couldn’t stop burping for the next couple of days with all the wind after it. I also had a sore throat the next day because of the breathing tube.

Definitely don’t try and skip painkillers as the pain will hit you like a tonne of bricks if you do. I also needed help with almost everything - getting out of bed, walking through the house, someone had to bend down and get things for me as I couldn’t. Also make sure your support stockings fit properly - mine were too big so had big creases all up and down them which actually made my ankles swell up terribly so I was actually better off without them.

Good luck - the worrying beforehand is honestly worse than the op itself x

[Lizzielizzielizzie]

I didn’t shave. Though I did shave my legs and was glad I had!

My top tip would be to ask for more anti-sickness meds if you feel sick when you come round: I didn’t do this and should have done.

Also take your phone charger in case you’re in for longer than you expect x

[Georgia03]

Peppermint tea and heat pads for the gas pains worked so well for me! plenty of rest and comfy clothes. I was also worrying so much about mine but it went smoothly, I wasn’t expecting the pain and recovery after though (sorry if I put you off) but everyone is different. I was also very emotional afterwards don’t know if it was the drugs or hormones but have support around you! You will be fine xxxx

[sheri1991]

Hey

I had my op on the 27th October.. I have a fear of needle and being away from home...so on the Friday morning i was up early..(Well most of the night just thinking about how it was going to be) I arrived at 7 at the hospital, gave me pain killers b4 I went down to next room at 9.. I told them I didnr want to see the needles or know when they where going in I just looked away.. he was talking to me about how long iv been trying to get pregnant and I was gone.... when I woke up in the recovery room at about 2.30 i was shocked... it was cold and I was in pain.. the nurse gave me pain relief whixh soon the pain went away.. I got down to the ward and I had to say in for 2nights...as the drain I had in was still filling and filling. I was in surgery for a lot longer than they hoped I was.. I had a 15cm cysit on my left overy and a 6 cm one on my right... I was only went to be under for like 45 to an hour... I was down there for 5 and a half hours.. my partner was really worried but just had to wait for them.to say I was on my way bak to the ward.. but after all that and how scared I was b4 its nothing to worry about.. I'm now scared as i have to have ivf.. but im sure it will all be worth tht little bundle of joy at the end.